Most Client Director roles ask you to manage accounts. This one asks you to build something. A business within PLAY. And become the person your clients call before the brief exists. Our Purpose We exist to make consumers' lives better by unearthing insights that help create products they truly want. PLAY Innovation helps Australia's leading FMCG companies make better product and innovation decisions through consumer insights, sensory research and product testing. While we work across the full innovation lifecycle, more than 60% of our work is in sensory research and product testing, where we've built deep expertise and continue to invest for the future. Our vision is to become the leading authority in FMCG innovation in Australia. We believe sensory science and product testing will become one of the most strategically important capabilities in FMCG over the next decade. That's why we're investing in Australia's largest Central Location Testing facility, AI and better ways of generating insight to help clients innovate with greater confidence. We believe great research isn't about applying the same methodology every time. It's about using experience and judgement to design the right approach for the decision our client needs to make. Our clients trust us to combine sound methodology with practical judgement, delivering clear recommendations rather than unnecessary complexity. To achieve our vision, we need someone with strong FMCG innovation experience, sound commercial judgement and a genuine passion for helping clients make better product decisions. Someone who earns clients' trust through the quality of their thinking and wants to build something exceptional.

Build Your Own Business Within PLAY Initially, you'll inherit a portfolio of established FMCG clients, working alongside senior Innovation, Consumer Insights, R&D; and Quality leaders at some of Australia's best-known food and beverage companies. Your portfolio will be strongly weighted toward sensory research and product testing, while also spanning broader FMCG innovation and consumer insight challenges. We believe the best opportunities rarely arrive as briefs. They come from understanding a client's business well enough to help solve problems before they've decided they need research. The strongest Client Directors invest time understanding their clients' businesses, building relationships well beyond individual projects and staying close to the commercial challenges they're trying to solve. This is a hands-on leadership role. You’ll lead and grow your own pod as if it were your own business, taking responsibility for its clients, commercial performance, people and long‑term success. You’ll still be hands‑on,



designing research, leading product testing, presenting insights and mentoring your team. At the same time, you'll strengthen the systems, commercial discipline and culture that will help make PLAY Australia's leading authority in FMCG innovation. We're building a high-performance business. That means high standards, ownership, continuous improvement and people who naturally raise the bar. We value people who are prepared to lean in when it matters most, whether that's supporting a client, helping a teammate or building something exceptional together. The Client Director carries genuine commercial accountability from day one. You’ll own your client portfolio, pricing, utilisation, profitability and team performance, supported by the CEO as you continue to build your pod and broaden your influence across the business. The CEO will continue leading strategy and major client relationships while you become the recognised leader of your pod. What You'll Be Doing Building deep relationships with a portfolio of FMCG clients, becoming the first person they call when they're facing an important product or innovation decision. Investing time with clients between projects, developing a genuine understanding of their business, strategic priorities and commercial challenges. Identifying opportunities to help clients solve problems before they become formal research briefs. Designing and delivering high-quality sensory, product testing and consumer research that helps clients make better business decisions with confidence. Leading a high-performing pod with responsibility for client growth, profitability, quality and people. Coaching and developing researchers while continually raising the capability of the team. Helping shape the future of PLAY. We're Looking for Someone Who... Has strong credibility across FMCG innovation and consumer insights, with a solid understanding of product testing. Sensory research experience would be highly regarded but is not essential. Is comfortable working across both qualitative and quantitative research. Is naturally curious about clients' businesses and enjoys understanding their commercial challenges, often spotting opportunities long before they become research briefs. Uses experience and judgement to recommend approaches that are practical,



fit for purpose and commercially relevant. Thinks commercially and enjoys growing client relationships through trust, expertise and outcomes. Has the ambition to build and lead a successful business within PLAY.

You’ll Probably Enjoy This Role If You... You love talking about products. You're naturally curious about how businesses grow, not just how research works. You enjoy spending time with clients and becoming the first person they call when they need help solving a problem. You're comfortable telling clients what they need to hear, not simply what they want to hear. You prefer transparent recommendations over unnecessary complexity. You enjoy improving systems because poor systems frustrate you. You enjoy developing people as much as delivering great work. You prefer being judged by the value you create rather than the hours you work. You want the autonomy to build something meaningful. This Probably Isn't for You If... You're happiest delivering projects rather than building long-term client relationships. You’d rather wait for briefs than actively create opportunities with clients. You enjoy research more than solving business problems. You prefer applying the same methodology every time rather than using judgement to design the right approach for the decision. You're looking for a role with limited commercial responsibility rather than genuine ownership. You're primarily looking for predictability rather than the opportunity to build something exceptional.

What Success Looks Like After 12 months, you'll be recognised by clients as one of their most trusted advisers. You'll have built relationships that extend well beyond individual projects, with clients increasingly viewing you as part of their innovation team. You'll have grown the portfolio you inherited because clients seek your advice early, trust your judgement and involve you in solving broader business challenges. Your pod will be commercially disciplined, highly engaged and consistently delivering exceptional work. Your team will be stronger than when you joined. You'll have built a reputation for combining strong research thinking, practical judgement and commercial impact. The Details Location: Brookvale, NSW Reports to: Founder & CEO Hands-on Delivery: Approximately 50% billable, balanced with client leadership, pod management and commercial growth. We’re not looking for someone to simply manage accounts. We're looking for someone who wants to build a business within PLAY, become the first person their clients call when they have an important product or innovation challenge, and help shape the future of FMCG innovation.

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📌 Client Director | FMCG Product Innovation (Mona Vale)
🏢 PLAY MR
📍 Mona Vale